JP3481248B2 - Method and apparatus for joining a tensioned elastic member with a moving support web - Google Patents

Description

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a process for making an article elastic by joining a stretched elastic member, and more particularly to an elastic member when applied to a moving support. Relating to the process of holding the in tension in the transverse machine direction. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a process in which an elastic member is pulled on a rotating drum as the drum rotates.

Background of the Invention Making a flexible support, such as a cloth or plastic film, elastic is accomplished by attaching a stretched elastic member. When the elastic member contracts, the flexible article wrinkles and shrinks in size with the elastic member. Subsequently, the article can be stretched as if it were elastic in itself. Such a concept is used, for example, in the manufacture of disposable diapers that provide an elastic waistband that fits tightly against the body.

There are many commercial processes for bonding elastic members with support materials. However, as is required in high speed diaper manufacturing systems, a secure bond between the "active" or tensioned elastic held in the transverse machine direction and the continuously moving carrier web is not provided. , Requires relatively complex methods and equipment. For example, the carrier web is passed through a festoon system, which effectively indexes continuously moving carrier webs. That is, the carrier web is briefly stopped along a portion of its path and the rest of the web continues to move within the series of accumulation rolls. The elastic ribbon is then stretched and bonded to the temporary fastening portion of the web. Such web processing systems are necessarily large and impractical at modern high speed diaper lines at web speeds of 1000 feet per minute.

Alternatively, the elastic ribbon may be pulled, stretched, and then deactivated by heat so as to be inelastic. Since the elastic properties are deactivated, the elastic body can be treated during bonding without being associated with the shrinkage forces that wrinkle the support web. Later, after the elastic body is bonded to the carrier web,
A separate heat activated step reshapes the elasticity of the formed ribbon. The need for heat deactivation and reactivation limits the choice of elastic material. Such processes are complicated by the fact that whenever heat is applied to a polymeric elastic material, the temperature must be precisely controlled to avoid interfering with elastic properties. Also, the important properties of spring ratio and elongation percentage utilized in heat-reactivated elastic materials are that they are "in the active state" that they are not reactivated by heat.
Less than the spring rate and percent elongation used for the elastic body.

The elastic member of the diaper is typically a polymer ribbon or a laminate of multiple polymer strands joined by a nonwoven sheet. The elastic member is typically bonded to the support in a high speed continuous process by compression bonding, thermal bonding and adhesive bonding.

In light of the complexity of known processes for joining a stretched elastic member with a moving support web and the need to create a waistband of a diaper formed of the stretched elastic body, the purpose of the present invention is to: The object is to combine the elastic body, which is held in tension in the transverse machine direction, with the continuously moving carrier web in a compact, high-speed process.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a non-stretched elastic member,
Cutting from the elastic web and stretching the stretched elastic in the transverse machine direction prior to bonding to the moving support web.

Yet another object of the invention is to bond the tensioned elastic member to the moving carrier web without introducing external heat into the material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method of joining a tensioned elastic member to a carrier web that continuously moves transverse to the direction of tension of the elastic member.
The unstretched elastic member is cut from the leading edge of the web of elastic material. The outer surface of the first rotating drum is cut, and the leading edge of the elastic material web is supported by a pair of clamp members that move axially on the first rotating drum. The unstretched elastic member has two ends. Each end of the elastic member that is not stretched is gripped by one of the clamp members. A sealing die is attached to each clamp member below each end of the elastic member. As the first drum rotates, the clamp members move separately in the axial direction to stretch the unstretched elastic member, thereby forming a stretched elastic member having two ends. The carrier web is fed to a second rotating drum. The second rotating drum rotates parallel to the first rotating drum and has the same surface velocity as the first rotating drum. The second rotating drum is supported to provide the anvil surface of the sealing die of the first rotating drum. The stretched elastic member and the support web are first
When passing between the rotating drum and the second rotating drum of
The stretched elastic member and the end of the carrier web are pressed against the anvil surface by a sealing die.

In the preferred embodiment, the clamp member of the first rotating drum comprises a vacuum gripper. The first rotating drum has a vacuum source in communication with each vacuum gripper. The vacuum is sufficient to hold the ends of the stretched elastic members after the vacuum grippers have moved separately in the axial direction. The pressing of the elastic member and the support against the anvil surface provides the connection in one of at least three different ways.
At the point where the sealing die contacts the stretched elastic member and the support web, sufficient pressure is exerted to melt bond the ends of the stretched elastic member to the support web. This method is one of compression coupling. Alternatively, the stretched elastic member has a pressure sensitive adhesive coating that can be secured to the support web when pressing the stretched elastic member against the support web. This method is one of adhesive bonding. Alternatively, where the sealing die contacts the stretched elastic member, it may be heated to melt bond the end of the stretched elastic member to the support web. This method is one of thermal bonding.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the device for joining a tensioned elastic member with a carrier web continuously moving transverse to the direction of tension of the elastic member comprises a first
Means for supporting and driving the rotating drum and the second rotating drum so as to rotate in parallel and in opposite directions. The second rotating drum is supported to provide a sealed anvil surface. Means are also provided for cutting the unstretched elastic member from the leading edge of the web of elastic material. Cutting is performed on the outer circumferential surface of the first rotary drum, and the leading edge portion of the elastic material is supported by a pair of clamp members that are movable in the axial direction on the first rotary drum. The unstretched elastic member has two ends. Further, there is a means for gripping each end of the non-stretched elastic member by one of the clamp members, each clamp member having a sealing die attached below the non-stretched elastic member. For moving the clamp member separately in the axial direction so as the first drum rotates to stretch the elastic member that has not been stretched, thereby forming a stretched elastic member having two ends. Means are provided. There are also means for feeding the carrier web to the second rotating drum. The second rotating drum has the same surface velocity as the first rotating drum.
Further, the stretched elastic member and the support web are first
And a means for sealing each end of the stretched elastic member to the carrier web as it passes between the second rotating drum.

In the preferred embodiment, the means for axially moving the clamp member comprises a fixed cam surface at each end of the first rotating drum. Also, the second rotating drum has vacuum holes around it to prevent wrinkling of the support web in the transverse machine direction after the stretched elastic member is bonded to the support web. The second rotating drum has a vacuum source in communication with the vacuum holes, the vacuum being sufficient to hold the carrier web against the vacuum holes. By holding the elastic member in the stretched state, a second sealing operation may bond the other portion of the stretched elastic member to the carrier web.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the device for joining a tensioned elastic member and a carrier web moving continuously transverse to the direction of tension of the elastic member comprises a first
And a drive device for supporting and driving the rotating drum and the second rotating drum. The first rotating drum has a band of vacuum holes around it. The second rotating drum is parallel to the first rotating drum and rotates in a direction opposite to the first rotating drum. The second rotating drum provides a sealed anvil surface at the nip point between the first rotating drum and the second rotating drum,
It is pressed against and supported by the first rotating drum. A cutter roll cuts the unstretched elastic member from the leading edge of the elastic material web held against the first rotating drum by the vacuum applied to the band of vacuum holes around the first rotating drum. For this purpose, it is mounted adjacent to the first rotary drum. The elastic member that is not stretched is 2
Has one end. A pair of vacuum grippers are attached to the first rotating drum to support each end of the unstretched elastic member when the unstretched elastic member is cut from the elastic material web. There is. Each vacuum gripper has a sealing die attached below each end of the unstretched elastic member. The vacuum gripper is separated axially so that the track of the cam stretches the unstretched elastic member during rotation of the first rotating drum, thereby forming a stretched elastic member having two ends. It is attached to the frame for movement. The carrier web is fed to the second rotating drum.
The second rotating drum is configured such that each sealing die attached to the vacuum gripper is stretched elastically as the stretched elastic member and carrier web pass through the nip location between the first and second rotating drums. It has the same surface velocity as the first rotating drum to press each end of the member against the carrier web carried by the anvil surface of the second rotating drum. This results in a compression bond between the end of the stretched elastic member and the carrier web.

In this preferred embodiment, the second rotating drum has vacuum holes around its periphery to prevent wrinkling of the support web in the transverse machine direction after the stretched elastic member is bonded to the support web. is doing. The second rotating drum has a vacuum source in communication with the vacuum holes, the vacuum being sufficient to hold the carrier web against the vacuum holes. Also, in order to compressively bond the other part of the stretched elastic member to the carrier web, a sealing roll is provided with a second rotation downstream from the nip point between the first rotating drum and the second rotating drum. It is designed to press the drum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present description ends with the claims, which clearly point out the invention, but with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like elements It will be better understood by reading the description below.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of an apparatus of the present invention for joining a tensioned elastic member and a moving carrier web, with two vacuum drums arranged one above the other. The cutter roll, the sealing roll, the elastic material web entering the device from the bottom, and the carrier web entering the device from the top are shown.

2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing the elastic material web and the support web around the two vacuum drums when the drum and roll are oriented according to FIG. It shows the route.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing the drum and roll rotated 90 ° of the orientation shown in FIG.

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3, showing the elastic material web and the support web around the two vacuum drums when the drum and roll are oriented according to FIG. It shows the route.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings (in particular FIGS. 1 and 2), an apparatus for connecting a tensioned moveable elastic body, generally indicated at 10, to a moving support web. , A preferred embodiment of the present invention is provided. Device 10
Has a frame 12 with bearings 14 for supporting a first rotating drum 16. The second rotating drum 18 is supported by bearings (not shown). The bearings supporting the second rotary drum 18 are
Exerts a load on the first rotating drum 16 and slides the frame 12 vertically so that the two drums are supported parallel to each other. The first and second drums 16,18 have drive shafts 20,22 mounted to the bearings of the frame, respectively. The drums 16, 18 are driven by a drive device (not shown) commonly known in the art. The second rotary drum 18 is driven so as to rotate in the opposite direction to the first rotary drum 16 at the same speed.

The drums 16 and 18 have circumferential outer surfaces 24 and 26, respectively. At each end of the drums 16 and 18, a support ring 28,
30, 32, 34 are provided. Support ring 2 for drum 16
Support rings 32, 34 of 8, 30 and drum 18 provide a contact surface between the drums. Preferably, both drums have support rings of the same diameter, so that one rotation of one drum causes one rotation of the other drum to maintain pitch alignment. The diameter of the support rings 28, 30, 32, 34 is equal to the outer surface 24, 26.
Slightly larger than the diameter of the drum, there is a constant gap 36 at the nip point between the drum 16 and the drum 18 when the support rings make contact. Nip point is a term used to describe the line of contact between two cylindrical rolls. However, in the present disclosure, the nip location is
It refers to the gap 36 between the drum 16 and the drum 18 drawn between the nip points of the support rings 28, 30, 32, 34.

Air cylinders 38, 40 pushing against the sliding bearing support shaft 22 of the second rotary drum 18 press and hold the support rings 28, 30 against the support rings 32, 34. Air cylinder
38, 40 are mounted on the frame 12 and are biased by a source of compressed air (not shown).

The drum 16 has a band of holes 42 around the outer circumferential surface 24 and the drum 18 has a band of holes 44 around the outer circumferential surface 26. For the purposes described below, a low level vacuum is drawn from the source (not shown) to the swaths of both holes. Vacuum is delivered to one end of the first rotating drum 16 from a fixed manifold 46 that is connected to the pipe 48, which is supported by the frame 12. The vacuum is
The fixed manifold 50 connected to the pipe 52 is sent to one end of the second rotary drum 18, and the pipe 52 and the fixed manifold 5 are connected.
0, supported by frame 12.

The first rotating drum 16 has two axial slots 54 centered within the outer circumferential surface 24 and oriented 180 ° on either side of the drum 16. Within each slot 54 are two clamp members 56, 58, which are preferably vacuum grippers, but may be mechanical clamps well known in the art. The vacuum grippers 56 and 58 are on the outer circumferential surface.
It has perforated vacuum gripping surfaces 60, 62 which are in contact with 24. A sealing die 64 is centered within the perforated vacuum gripping surfaces 60, 62 and extends slightly above these gripping surfaces. Vacuum gripper
The functions of 56, 58 and the sealing die 64 will be described later.
A high level of vacuum is drawn on vacuum grippers 56, 58 from a vacuum source (not shown). However, the vacuum is delivered to drum 16 via stationary manifold 46 and pipe 66, which are supported by frame 12.

A cam follower rod 70 extends from the vacuum gripper 56 and is guided within the bearing below the outer circumferential surface 24 of the drum 16. The cam follower rod 70 has a cam follower 72, and one end of the cam follower 72 is placed in the track 74 of the fixed barrel cam 76. When the first drum 16 rotates, the shape of the track 74 causes the cam follower 72 to move the cam follower rod 70 axially, which causes the vacuum gripper 56 to move within the slot 54. Similarly, from the vacuum gripper 58,
A cam follower 80 extends and is guided within the bearing under the outer circumferential surface 24 of the drum 16. Cam follower 80
Has a cam follower 82, one end of which rests in a track 84 of a fixed barrel cam 86. When the first drum 16 rotates, the shape of the track 84
The cam follower 82 moves the cam follower rod 80 axially, which causes the vacuum gripper 58 to move within the slot 54.
The purpose of this mechanism will be described later.

A cutter roll 90 is attached to the frame 12, and two axially oriented breaking blades 92 are connected to the cutter roll 90. Blade 92 is commonly known in the art as a flex knife.
The blades 92 are positioned 180 ° to each other on either side of the cutter roll 90. The cutter roll 90 is disposed adjacent to the first drum 16 such that the outer circumferential surface 24 of the drum 16 acts as the anvil surface of the breaking blade 92. The operation of the cutter roll will be described later.

The sealing roll 104, which is supported by the frame 12 and is driven by a driving device (not shown), is the second rotating drum 1.
Installed adjacent to 8. The sealing roll 104 has sealing dies 106 positioned 180 ° to each other on either side of the sealing roll 104. The sealing die 106 is the drum 18
The surface 26 of is used as the anvil surface and operates as described below. FIG. 1 also shows a portion of the carrier web 98 being fed to the nip location 36 between the drums 16,18.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown first drum 16 and second drum 18 rotating in opposite directions. The cutter roll 90 rotates in the opposite direction to the first drum 16 and
104 rotates in the opposite direction to the second drum 18. FIG. 2 shows the idler roll 94 adjacent to the first rotating drum 16.
It is shown. Elastic material web 96 is a source (not shown)
From the idler roll 94 and the outer circumferential surface 24 of the drum 16. The elastic material web 96 is elastic in the transverse machine direction. The elastic material web 96 is preferably less elastic along its length. The elastic material web 96 is preferably a three-layer construction formed of a non-woven polypropylene outer layer having parallel natural rubber strands intermittently bonded in the transverse machine direction between the outer layers. An example of a suitable method for making a web of elastic material is disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,185,052 issued to Chapel et al. On Feb. 9, 1993, which patent is hereby incorporated by reference.

The web 96 preferably does not stretch in the transverse machine direction when fed to the first drum 16. The means for feeding the web 96 is not shown, but the web 96 is fed at a speed substantially slower than the speed of the circumferential outer surface 24 of the first drum 16. The speed ratio of drum 16 to web 96 is
It is the same as the ratio of the pitch length of the diaper to the desired width of the waistband elastic member.

The drive for the cutter roll 90 is not shown. However, the surface of the cutter roll 90 is driven at the same surface speed as the surface speed of the drum 16 when the blade 92 contacts the circumferential outer surface 24 of the first rotating drum 16. Cutter roll 90
Rotates once for each rotation of drum 16. Therefore, if the cutter roll 90 is smaller than the drum 16, the cutter roll must be driven in a quick / slow manner, as is commonly known in the art. The blade 92 of the cutter roll 90 is aligned with the slot 54 of the drum 16 so that a cut is made at the trailing edge of the slot 54.

Making an elastic waistband member, moving support web 98
How to combine with. The unstretched web of elastic material 96 is fed to the idler roll 94 and the circumferential outer surface 24 of the rotating drum 16. The vacuum manifold 46
A low level of vacuum is delivered to the perforated band 42 of the drum 16 at zone A located between the idler roll 94 and the cutter roll 90. The low level vacuum acts to hold the web 96 against the circumferential outer surface 24 of the drum 16. However, the surface speed of the drum 16 is substantially greater than the surface speed of the web 96 being fed so that the web 96 slides on the circumferential outer surface 24. Web 96 continues to be drawn into the nip between cutter roll 90 and drum 16. The blade 92 contacts the trailing edge of the slot 54 of the drum 16 to cut the unstretched elastic member 100 from the web 96, just as the leading edge of the web 96 passes past the nip points and rests on the vacuum grippers 56, 58. .
This is best shown in FIG. Immediately after cutting, a high level of vacuum is dispensed from the manifold 46 to the perforated surfaces 60, 62 of the vacuum grippers 56, 58 for gripping the ends of the unstretched elastic member 100. Gripper 56,
Since 58 is rotating with drum 16, once cut, elastic member 100 is pulled away from slowly moving web of elastic material 96. It is used in the art as a cutting and sliding process.

FIG. 2 shows that the high level vacuum is the vacuum gripper in the zone B.
It is shown that it is drawn to 56, 58. Therefore,
The elastic member 100 is formed from the cutter roll 90 to the first and second
It is conveyed by a vacuum gripper through a nip point 36 between the drums 16, 18 of the. After passing through the nip point 36, the high level of vacuum is no longer pulled by the vacuum gripper to release the elastic member. Thus, after the nip point 36, there is no vacuum delivered to either the band 42 of holes or the vacuum grippers 56, 58. Zone C, shown in the second vacuum drum 18, has a low level of vacuum distributed through the vacuum manifold 50 to the band 44 of holes to maintain control of the support 98 after the elastic members have been joined. To do.

FIG. 3 shows the device 10 viewed from the side opposite to that of FIG. FIG. 3 shows the center of slot 54 so that the end of unstretched elastic member 100 rests on the perforated surfaces 60, 62 of the vacuum gripper when the unstretched elastic material web 96 is cut. Vacuum grippers 56, 58 retracting into are shown. When the first drum 16 is rotated 180 ° from the cutting position to the position of the nip 36, the cam tracks 74, 84 cause the vacuum grippers 56, 58 to move axially separately in the slots 54, thereby stretching. Not shaped to stretch the elastic member 100. Stretched elastic member 100
Are held firmly in the vacuum gripper by only a high level of vacuum so that stretching occurs. Preferably,
The material of construction of the elastic member 100 has a porosity that is small enough to be vacuum gripped to overcome resistance to the stretching member 100.

FIG. 2 shows that the carrier web 98 is fed to the surface 26 of the second drum 18 at a position upstream from the nip point 36. The carrier web 98 is fed at the same surface velocity as the surface velocity of the surface 26 of the drum 18. As both the carrier web and the stretched elastic member pass through the nip point 36, a low level of vacuum is drawn from the band 44 of holes in the drum 18 across the width of the carrier web. The vacuum grippers 56, 58 have a raised sealing die 64, which is the second drum 18
The end of the stretched elastic member 100 is pressed against the carrier web supported by the surface 26 of the. Thus, surface 26 is a sealing anvil surface for sealing die 64. The method of sealing the ends of the elastic member 100 to the carrier web 98 is preferably by compression bonding, and the high contact pressure causes the polymeric materials to flow together. An example of a suitable compression coupling method
It is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,738, issued to Ball et al. On the 24th of March, which patent is hereby incorporated by reference. However, other bonding methods may be used, such as heating the sealing die to create a hot melt bond, applying a pressure sensitive adhesive to the outer surface of the stretched elastic member.

The seal must occur almost instantaneously so that high operating speeds can be obtained. Support rings 28, 30, 3 to repeatedly achieve the high contact pressure required for compression bonding.
2, 34 are preferably discontinuous at the vacuum gripper so that the full load of air cylinders 38, 40 is applied to the sealing die. The width of the discontinuity of the support ring is preferably no greater than the width of the sealing die and the sealing die preferably has minimal bounce between the drums during the transition from support ring contact to die / anvil face contact. Has a surface diameter such that

After the seal is completed, the carrier web 98 is provided with a second stretched elastic member 100 attached to each diaper pitch length.
Continue to move around drum 18 of.

The sealing roll 104 is used to further bond the stretched elastic member 100 to the carrier web 98, as is required for elastic waistbands for diapers. The surface 26 of the drum 18 serves as an anvil sealing surface for the sealing roll 104. Compression bonding is the preferred sealing method, although other sealing methods are included within the scope of the present invention. The sealing roll 104 has the same dimensions as the drum 18 or, if smaller, has a quick / slow drive system as is commonly known in the art to provide its surface velocity during sealing contact. Matches the surface speed of the drum 18, but is slower than the surface speed of the drum 18. The sealing contact of the roll 104 is made by the elastic member 100.
Are aligned with the vacuum gripper of the drum 16 so that the ends of the drum contact only where they are joined to the carrier web 98. The bonding pattern is determined by the shape of the raised die surface 106 of the sealing roll 104.

FIG. 4 is the same as FIG. 2 except that the roll positions are 90 ° out of phase. FIG. 4 shows an elastic material web 96 which is joined by a vacuum gripper to a stretched elastic member to a carrier web 98 and is cut at the same time a second bond of the elastic member to the carrier web occurs.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, two rotating drums 1
The diameters of 6 and 18 are 288.8 mm and rotate at 300 rpm. The drum is made of steel and has a width of 355.6 mm. The elastic web material is a three-layer structure having two outer layers of pleated polypropylene nonwoven fabric and an elastic central web that are compression bonded together. The width of the elastic material web is preferably 92 mm. The carrier web is a polypropylene non-woven fabric,
The width is 322.6 mm. The air cylinder that loads the drum preferably loads 6895 BAR against the effective sealing area. The vacuum die gripper die 64 is raised 0.076 mm above the outer circumferential surface 24 of the drum 16. The feed rate of the web 96 is 14% of the surface speed of the drum 16. Elastic member 10
0 is cut to a width of 63.5 mm.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
All such modifications that are within the scope of this invention are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-4-89050 (JP, A) JP-A-1-183503 (JP, A) JP-A 64-8184 (JP, A) JP-A 63-219602 (JP , A) Actual Kaihei 1-147112 (JP, U) US Pat. No. 4925520 (US, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A61F 13 / 15-13 / 84

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method for connecting a stretched elastic member and a support web which continuously moves in a direction transverse to a pulling direction of the elastic member, comprising: a) elasticizing an unstretched elastic member. Cutting from the leading edge of the material web, the cutting step supporting the leading edge of the elastic material web with a pair of axially movable clamp members on the first rotating drum. A non-stretched elastic member having two ends, which is performed on the outer surface of the rotating drum, and b) gripping each end of the non-stretched elastic member by one of the clamp members. And each clamp member has a sealing die attached below each end of the elastic member, and c) the clamp member is axially moved separately while rotating the first drum and stretched. Not elastic member Stretching, thereby forming a stretched elastic member having two ends, d) providing the carrier web to a second rotating drum, the second rotating drum having a first Rotating at the same surface speed parallel to the rotating drum of the first rotating drum, the second rotating drum being supported to provide the anvil surface of the sealing die of the first rotating drum, and e) the stretched elastic member and the support. A method comprising pressing the stretched elastic member and the support web against the anvil surface with a sealing die as the body web passes between the first and second rotating drums. 2. The clamp member of the first rotating drum is provided with a vacuum gripper, the first rotating drum has a vacuum source communicating with each vacuum gripper, and the vacuum has a vacuum gripper axis line. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method is sufficient to hold each end of the stretched elastic member after being separately moved in the direction. 3. The pressing step exerts sufficient pressure to melt bond the end of the stretched elastic member to the carrier web at the point where the sealing die contacts the stretched elastic member, the method comprising: The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that is one of compression couplings. 4. The stretched elastic member has a pressure sensitive adhesive coating that can be secured to the support web when the stretched elastic member is pressed against the support web.
Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that this method is one of adhesive bonding. 5. The sealing die is heated sufficiently to melt bond the ends of the stretched elastic member to the carrier web at the point where the sealing die contacts the stretched elastic member, the method The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that is a thermal bond. 6. A device for connecting a tensioned elastic member with a carrier web which continuously moves transverse to the direction of tension of the elastic member, comprising: a) a first rotating drum; A frame and drive for supporting and driving the second rotating drum; b) a first rotating drum having a band of vacuum holes around it; and c) rotating in the opposite direction parallel to the first rotating drum. Second
Of the first rotating drum to provide a sealed anvil surface at the nip point between the first rotating drum and the second rotating drum. Pressed and supported, d) an unstretched elastic material mounted adjacent to the first rotating drum, the first being applied by a vacuum applied to a band of vacuum holes around the first rotating drum. A cutter roll for cutting from a leading edge of a web of elastic material held against a rotating drum of said unstretched elastic member having two ends; e) a first Each vacuum gripper includes a pair of vacuum grippers attached to a rotating drum and adapted to support each end of the unstretched elastic members when the unstretched elastic members are cut from the elastic material web. Is stretched A sealing die is attached under each end of the elastic member that is not attached, and f) is attached to the frame and axially moves the vacuum gripper to extend the elastic member that is not extended when the first drum rotates. A cam track for moving separately, thereby forming a stretched elastic member having two ends, g) means for feeding the support to a second rotating drum, The second rotating drum includes a stretched elastic member that passes through a nip point between the first rotating drum and the second rotating drum to compressively couple the ends of the stretched elastic member to the carrier web. A first rotation such that each sealing die attached to the vacuum gripper presses each end of the stretched elastic member against a carrier web supported by the anvil surface of a second rotating drum. Dora Have the same surface speed as that, that the device according to claim. 7. The second rotating drum has vacuum holes around it to prevent wrinkling of the support web in the transverse machine direction after the stretched elastic member is bonded to the support web. The second rotating drum has a vacuum source in communication with the vacuum holes, the vacuum being sufficient to hold the carrier web against the vacuum holes. Apparatus according to claim 6. 8. A second rotary drum downstream from the nip point between the first rotary drum and the second rotary drum for compressively coupling the other portion of the stretched elastic member to the carrier web. 8. A device according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising a sealing roll adapted to press against.